Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded concept or version of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This apparatus was called a shaduf and was used to transport water. The crane was made out of a pivoting long beam that balanced on a vertical support. On one end a bucket was connected and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was connected.
Cranes which were built in the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. The crane consisted of a wooden long beam that was known as a boom. The boom was attached to a base which rotates. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope that wrapped around it. This rope additionally had a hook which was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and carried the weight.
Within Europe, the huge cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were made using cranes. Cranes were also used to unload and load ships in key ports. Eventually, major crane design developments evolved. Like for example, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, hence really increasing the range of motion for the machine. After the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing which held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes utilized animals and humans for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes rapidly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and internal combustion or IC engines emerged. Cranes also became designed out of cast iron and steel rather than wood. The new designs proved longer lasting and more efficient. They could obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and therefore complete larger jobs in less time.